Nuclear deal is'anti-muslim', says Mayawati

Lucknow, Jul 1: Bahujan Samaj Party president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Tusesday, July 1, termed the proposed Nuclear-deal 'anti-muslim' and said it had upset the political applecart of Congress-Samajwadi Party combine.

''The deal is being done at the cost of cheaper gas from Iran and Muslims are vehemently opposed to it, she told a luncheon-press conference at her official residence this afternoon. Ruling out possibility of any pre-poll alliance of BSP with the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha elections, Ms Mayawati said the Congress and Samajwadi Party were spreading a canard in this regard to create a confusion in the minds of Muslims against 'sarva samaj' ideology of the BSP.

''These parties are upset over the growing popularity of BSP and spreading rumours in order to misguide the people of the state, especially the Muslim community which would never forgive the Congress and allies if N-deal is signed,'' she said.

Terming any insuation in this regard 'baseless', 'confusing' and 'part of political conspiracy', the UP Chief Minister said her party was opposed to the nuclear accord and the SP had to support it as part of the bargain to negate various inquiries against Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav and his relatives and friends.